A/N: Carter went back to the Congo for Kem, leaving Abby who hadn't had the chance to tell him her real feelings for him. But since he'd left she'shad feelings towards Ray, feelings that she'd pushed to the back of her mind. She just thought she was still lusting after Carter. But what happens when she lets her heart tell her what to do instead of her head?
This is based around the song 'Love, Don't Be A Stranger' by Sara Evans.
'Love I haven't seen you in a long time You know your way around my heart
Since then I ain't been worth a dime
Hasn't been that long
But it feels like years
Last time it could have worked out better
But you know we belong together
Love don't be a stranger round here
But I know you don't see well in the dark
So I leave a light on and you won't get scared
In the morning or even at midnight
You can come on in its all right
Love don't be a stranger
Don't worry bout the danger
Love don't be a stranger round here
Last time you went away Love I'm a little bit smarter Last time you went away
You made me cry, cry, cry
Said I didn't need you anyway
But I lied, lied, lied
Love don't be a stranger
Don't worry bout the danger
Love don't be a stranger round here
And I'll try a little bit
This time I won't wind up in tears
Love now that we're talking
Maybe you'll come around more often
Love don't be a stranger
Don't worry about the danger
Don't be a stranger round here
You made me cry, cry, cry
Said I didn't need you anyway
But I lied, lied, lied
Love don't be a stranger
Don't worry bout the danger
Love don't be a stranger round here'
Abby wearily walked along the hospital corridor, one hand on her hip, the other rubbing the back of her neck. She'd already worked a shift and had then stayed on at the hospital to keep Susan company. She was exhausted.
Susan had gotten herself attatched to one of her patients whos life story sort of resembled her sisters. She had insisited on staying there all night to watch over her, and had maintained a vigil into the early hours of the morning. It was only after Susan had fallen asleep that Abby had crept away to the lounge and caught up on a few hours sleep herself.
She didn't understand why she had stayed there for, she didn't mind the fact that she did, it beats going home to an empty apartment, but for some reason she had felt obliged to. Maybe secretly she had felt a little attatchment to that girl herself, or maybe she was just there for support for her friend. Whatever it was Abby was still there, she would have given anything to get a good nights sleep in a comfortable bed, but the sofa in the lounge was just going to have to do for her. Abby looked down at her watch; it was 2:30am, she shut her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Abby awoke from the noise of the busy Chicago streets, getting up from the sofa she went of to the coffee machine and poured herself a large dark coffee. She needed it after the night she'd had, her neck and back were sore after sleeping in the lounge.
She made her way through the ER and up to the ICU where Susan still was sleeping peacefully next to her patient. Abby walked towards her and patted her on the shoulder, Susan turned her head to face Abby.
"Susan?" Abby smiled holding out a cup of coffee to her.
"What time is it?" She asked a little groggily.
"About 6:45am."
She yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Oh God, my shift starts at 7am." Susan replied getting up, she stretched towards the ceiling and practically drank all of the coffee in one go, she straightened out her lab coat and looked over at the young girl laying in the bed. "Just think that could be Chloe lying there."
"But Susan it's not, and you've got to stop thinking like that." Abby said placing her hand over the top of her friends.
"I know, and I'm thankful. But how can someone get themselves into so much trouble like that?" Susan took in a deep breath. "Well she's stable at least and is more than likely to make a full recovery, but when she wakes up, she'd just better realize how lucky she is!"
Susan went to make her way back down to the ER, before Abby stopped her.
"Maybe you should think about going home Susan. You don't look so hot."
"Thank's Abby." Susan laughed. "Next time I'll know where to come when I'm looking to get my ego boosted."
"No problem." Abby laughed back, they made their way back down to the lounge and collected their things. After the night they'd had they deserved the day off whether Weaver liked it or not.
They made their way outside, the bitter Chicago wind hit them in the face bringing them back to reality. They both pulled their coats closer to their bodies and made their way over to the EL.
"Y'know this shows how much Chuck cares!" Susan laughed. "I didn't come home all night and he didn't even phone to see where I was."
"Yeah but it was only one night, I could be missing for weeks and nobody would even know I wasn't there. Until it came to paying the rent, then my landlord might come a'knocking." Abby smiled sitting down on the bench.
Susan laughed "A'knocking? What's that all about." She said sitting down next to Abby playfully nudging her. "And I would care! Loads of people would. I mean what about Ray? I thought you two were close?"
"We're just friends, you know. Friends, nothing more and nothing less." Abby put her hands in her pocket and leant forward.
Susan mirrored her friends actions. "Friends? Friends? No way there's more to it than just that. I've seen the way he looks at you."
"He's to young for me anyway. I mean come on he's in a rock band, he can't be that mature, he still rushes out of work to go 'Jam' with his friends."
"So who cares if he's in a band, or whats the matter? Do you go and pick up your pension on the only day he has off?" Laughed Susan.
Abby laughed. "Shut up! You know what I mean."
The carriage pulled up and Susan and Abby got on, pushing their way past people just so they got a seat.
"It's so nice to be out from that cold, it's so icy." Susan stated rubbing her hands together, trying to regain all feeling back in her fingers. "I reckon snow's on the way."
"No it's too cold to snow." Abby was staring out of the window lackadaisically.
They spent the rest of their journey together discussing the Chicago weather before it was Susan's stop. Susan departed, leaving Abby alone.
By the time Abby got back to her apartment it was 8am, she carefully made her way up the icy steps and into her home. It was freezing in there, Abby ran straight over to the heating and switched it on before going into the bathroom and turning on the shower.
When Abby got out of the shower her apartment had heated up nicely, she made her way into the kitchen her bare feet padding across the wooden floor. Opening up the refridgerator she poked her head inside to see what she could have, sighing she slammed it shut. Nothing. She practically lived like a guy. There was dirty clothes strewn all over the place, there was nothing in the cupboards and the place was dirty. She had to sort herself out.
But that would have to wait until later, she was too tired to do anything. Right now all she could think about was her head on a pillow. Making her way into her room she changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed, no sooner did her head hit the pillow she was gone.
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